Officially now, Bond 23 is back on. Production for the 23rd outing in the James Bond franchise will commence in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012 according to a recent report by Deadline. Last month MGM roared back to life after exiting bankruptcy by securing $500 million in financing to fund new films and television series. Spyglass Entertainment executives Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum also took over as co-CEOs of the new MGM.

Bond 23 will be directed by Academy Award winner Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition) with a script by Bond veterans Neal Purvis and Robert Wade as well as Academy Award nominee John Logan (Gladiator). Bond 23’s previous screenwriter Peter Morgan apparently dropped out sometime midway through 2010 when MGM’s financial problems forced the company to halt all productions. Morgan himself stated that he only ever wrote a treatment and never a full script or first draft.

Daniel Craig will be back as James Bond for a third time and casting for the film is likely already underway. The most recent rumor is that Sam Mendes will be teaming up with his friend Simon Russell Beale again. Although it’s unknown which role Beale will play, the latest rumor is that he will be a “good guy”. Sam Mendes and Daniel Craig previously worked together on Road to Perdition.

MGM Press Release

BOND 23 RELEASE DATE ANNOUNCED

LOS ANGELES, CA (JANUARY 11, 2011) – Michael G. Wilson and Barbara Broccoli of EON Productions, together with Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, Co-Chairmen and Chief Executive Officers of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc., today announced that the 23rd James Bond film will commence production in late 2011 for a worldwide release on November 9, 2012.

Daniel Craig will be returning as the legendary British secret agent, with Sam Mendes directing a screenplay written by Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan.